Day 4: Stumbling but Staying Up

For all the expectation of charting my progress over this month, I regretfully observe that over the past couple of days I’ve not written a word.

There were foreseeable factors leading to a time shortage for the activity, like going out dancing with friends. But unplanned events (chatting with said friends until 2:30AM) signalled a failure of discipline on my part i.e. to sacrifice simple pleasures for the greater gain. I was dismayed at having to break the streak when my body physically could not sit to write these words.

What appears to be a slight stumble on my journey will not prove its undoing however, as I intend to make up the lost steps with redoubled pace.

Keeping My Stride

‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.’ ~Winston Churchill

Lately I have been learning the wisdom of ancient Stoics through the perspicacious reflections of Ryan Holiday. We are told that having the discipline to show up wins us half the battle, while the other half is comprised of targeted practice at the area of desired progress. By sitting here to write on a late Saturday night, even to reflect upon my recent stumbling, I believe some progress is being made upon this journey of conscious self-development.

Success does not always look like a royal accolade, or a Roman triumph — it comes in the silent satisfaction at having done one’s best in any given circumstances.

• Keep moving towards your goals — every step signifies progress
• Be not discouraged at breaks in effort; pick yourself up and carry on
• By showing up and exerting yourself daily, you have already scored a victory. Now be intentional about each effort and deliver outcomes!